Jamshedpur, March 28: CPI(Maoist) in Ghatshila has announced a “surrender policy” for police and paramilitary personnel, promising lucrative benefits for those willing to join the outfit, with senior officers dismissing the rebel move as a desperate pre-election gimmick.

The “policy with benefits” was revealed after police recovered Hindi pamphlets from Bagjata and Gohalpara villages in Mosabani and Bakrakocha and Maheshpur villages in Ghurabandha areas of Ghatshila subdivision early this morning.

The sops announced in the pamphlets were similar to those announced by the state government to bring rebels back into the mainstream and even went on to pledge cash benefits for policemen who “surrendered” with arms and ammunition.

For instance, a securityman would be given Rs 1.5 lakh if he turned up before the outfit with a rocket-launcher. Similarly, a rifle would fetch Rs 1 lakh, a revolver Rs 50,000 and a hand grenade Rs 10,000.

According to police sources, around 20 such pamphlets were found lying along the roads in these villages.

Additional superintendent of police (ASP) (Naxalite operation) Shailendra Burnwal, however, rejected the Maoist move as mere gimmick and slammed the rebels for resorting to “cheap propaganda” to try and instigate security personnel against the system.

“We have recovered some pamphlets distributed by Maoists in certain pockets of Ghatshila today. The rebels have termed it a surrender policy (for policemen and paramilitary forces). Such mimicry is not going to help them anyway,” said Burnwal.

The ASP said Naxalites were trying to reorganise themselves and were, therefore, resorting to various tactics to spread misinformation and consolidate their position in Ghatshila.

Thus, the police have taken the issue very seriously, though the pamphlets are ridiculous and will evoke no response, added Burnwal, who is also the nodal officer for the East Singhbhum district VIP Cell.

“As the Lok Sabha elections are approaching, the Naxalites have intensified their activities in the region,” said the additional SP.

Police recovered a landmine from Maheshpur on Wednesday during a drive to sanitise the area in view of the visit of Jamshedpur MP Ajoy Kumar for campaigning.

Following the recovery, the police intensified searches in the entire subdivision that led to the seizure of another landmine from Kalrabera village yesterday.

A police officer pointed out that the two landmines recovered were planted fresh, suggesting that the rebels were planning something in the run-up to the elections.